Lester Korzilius, FAIA, RIBA
As 2024 draws to a close, so does my three-year tenure as AIA International’s representative to the AIA Strategic Council. It has been an enormous honor to represent our group to the AIA National board and to the Strategic Council.
The Strategic Council is an advisory group to the National board. Part of the Council’s role is to represent the membership from a grassroots level. The other role is to be a forward-looking group that helps shape the direction and future policy of the Institute. In this latter task, the Strategic Council has focused on five principal areas which are climate/water, artificial intelligence, equity, well-being, and the value of architecture.
As your Strategic Councillor, I have contributed to the value of architecture group and previously to the equity group. In terms of advocating for our region, I used my position to further the creation of the five International Sections, i.e., AIA Taipei, AIA South Korea, AIA Latin America, AIA Southeast Asia, and AIA Sub-Saharan Africa, which I chaired alongside my Strategic Council role.
As most of you are aware, there has been some controversy in the last few years surrounding the governance of the AIA, the process of Fellowship, and the transparency of the Institute. The most recent development has been the departure of the AIA EVP/CEO.
The following documents will give further details and can be downloaded HERE:
Letter from former AIA National Presidents to the Board dated April 4, 2024
AIA National initial reply to former presidents dated April 30, 2024
Bloomberg article, dated June 7, 2024
AIA National detailed reply to former presidents, dated September 7, 2024
AIA National files ethics investigation request, dated September 25, 2024
AIA EVP/CEO announces her departure, dated December 10, 2024.
Additionally, there are a series of statements from the AIA Board that can be viewed here: https://www.aia.org/aia-board-director-statements.
In closing, I wish my successor Thierry Paret, FAIA, the best of luck as he takes on this role. Thierry is a former AIA International president, and one of the founders of AIA Middle East, so he is well equipped to represent our region. My involvement with the AIA will continue as I serve on an AIA National task force that looks at membership and increasing the value of the Institute for our members.
Thank you again for the honor of having me as your Strategic Councillor.
Lester Korzilius, FAIA, RIBA
Strategic Council Representative
